THE ALL BLACKS AND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12185, 29 March 1909, Page 3

THE ALL BLACKS AND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

(From O;ir Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, February 11. Last Friday took place the cagerlv anticipated meeting of the Appeal Conimittso of the International Board at tho Caledonian Hotel, The meeting lasted for nearly two hours, and at the closo the. resolutions were given to the Press. As will be seen, the voting was eqiml on the main issue submitted by the Scottish Union, and a further reso"lution practically admitting the accuracy of the Scottish Union's intention Mas adonted unanimously. Mr A S Blair, W.S., and Mr J. Aikman Smith represented the Scottish Union; Mr W Cail and Mr E. Temple Gordon, the Rugby Union; Mr Horace S. Lyne and Mr A. C. R. L'ewellyn the" Welsh Union; and Mr R. G. Warren and Mr J. S. Moor<s. tho Irish Union. The meeting was held to consider the dispute between England and Scotland, and the two specific issu ?s involved. The first of these was submitted by tho Rugby Union, and was as follows:— "Whether, having regard to the constitution of the International Board, tho Scottish Union .is at liberty to cancel the International fixture with England without referring in the first instance to the Board."

And the second issue submitted by the Scottish Union, was:— "Whether the cash payments to players stated in tho accounts of the New Zealand Union in connection with the tour in Groat Britain and other places as 'daily allowances to players. £1041 9s,' and which were made with the approval of the Rugby Union, are contrary to the principle of amateur football, and amount to professionalism.' 3 After a long discussion, the following resolution- was passed:— "That, having regard to the constiticn of the International Board, th© Scottish Unioii was not at liberty to cancel the International fixture with England without referring in the first instance to the Board."

On this resolution the vot3 was six for and two. against—England, Ireland,. and Wales being in favour, and Scotland against. ' .

Alter another discussion on Scotland's issue, the committee were equally divided, England and Wales voting against tho .resolution, and Scotland and Ireland for it. This means, simply, that the resolution was not agreed to, the chairman having no casting vote. Later the following resolutions were

unanimously passed :—- ---(1) "That the making of any allowance to players in cash is, in the opinion of this committee, contrary to the principles of amateur football, and in future no such allowances be made to any player." (2) '"In tho opinion of this meeting tho wording of bye-law 5 is capable of misconstruction, and they recommend that the Board consider at its next meeting the amendment of i:"s byelaws." .: ... , <,

OPINIONS IN SCOTLAND

- LONPON, February 11.;. I, am indeb^ejd . to;;thc" colunfns' of 'a well-knofvyiiv;spbifting daily - for- the folio wing paragraphs'■:— Commenting on tlie meeting and the resolutions our Edinburgh, correspondent telegraphed last night: The resolutions aro. of cource, conveniently contradictory, and hence from the logical and legal noiiit of view the meeting was something of a formal farce. In one resolution the committee are equally divided as to whother cash payments to players amount to professionalism, and in another resolution they agree unanimously that such payments are contrary to the principles of amateur football. It would appear, therefore, that the meeting was intended to secure peace, even,at the sacrifice of sense. The other two resolutions are equally contradictory, for the resolution passed, and which Ireland supported, is opposed in principle to the second resolution, which admits that the wording of byelaw 5 is obscure. Once more the conclusion is that the meeting tried to reach a compromise that made for peace, even if the decisions reached were .hardly those which accord with sense. Indeed, all the members of the committee admitted the ludicrously contradictory character of the four

resolution?. I see no reason to depart from the view as to the outlook oxpressed yesterday. Scotland is onlynearer an understanding with England in so far as some sort of undertaking; was given as to the future policy of the Rugby Union towards professionalisnr. and kindred problems. Some of thoUnions can act, however, until there ha<3 been a full meeting of their respective committees.

Ona thing is assured—The Irish and Scottish Unions are in most completeagreement as to tho necessity for drastic and thorough measures, while it isunderstood that the Welsh Union are just as dpsirous of purification as aro the Scottish and Irish Unions. The Rugby Union may then find themselves--in a position of far from splendid isolation.

The immediate feeling in Scottishcircles is that their action has done good in so far as it has roused all theUnions to a sense of the danger inwhich tho game as an amateur pastime has so long stood. If, therefore, theycan persuade themselves that the Rugby Union now realise that their policy,, so far from helping ta avoid a split, will, if pursued, inevitably lead to suclr a split, they may come to a decisioiv that the English Committee should bo given another opportunity of provingtheir sincerity in action. If they reach this decision, then the match betweeir Scotland arid England may after all h&played. In any case the Scottish Union will not deoide until they have piveiv tho matter careful consideration. They way bo relied upon to do what theyeonsider to be best in the interests of* the game as an amateur pasfime-